Beer and Jesus

The title of this article is very purposeful. Alcohol is a hot-button issue for a lot of Christians. There are a lot of opinions out there, and they tend to be held with fierceness.

Unfortunately, usually the conversations are couched in a background of asking this question: ‘what does God command?’ The reason I say that’s unfortunate isn't because commands are bad - it's because what is assumed in the discussion is the Gospel.

I absolutely refuse to do that. You and I both may know the Gospel, but we forget it. We forget it daily. And the moment that any of our obedience comes from something other than the Gospel, it absolutely disgusts God.

So let’s start here: Jesus is God. He became a man, always obeyed God, and was punished by God for our disobedience. He came back to life from the dead and now governs all of creation. He is at work giving people new hearts that want to obey him, forgiving their sins, and causing them to begin to obey his commands. One day he will return to earth to fix everything that’s wrong with it. Everyone who is longing for his return will get to enter into his new creation forever to be with him.

And so, believer, you stand righteous before the Father. You have a new heart. Your obedience is just acting like who God has already made you – and is an act of love.

So when it comes to alcohol, we need to start with this question: how do I, as someone who Jesus has saved, need to act with regards to alcohol so that Jesus will best be honored?

There’s the question we’re addressing. And here’s where we’re going: in this article, we're going to look at Jesus' commands. In, God willing, a follow up article, we'll be looking at the history of the American Church with regard to drinking alcohol.

Command 1: Don’t get drunk.

Easy enough, right? Ephesians 5:18 says, “Don’t get drunk with wine.” The question that people always ask here is, “Well, what does drunk mean?” And that question is usually asked because people either want to get as tipsy as possible without getting ‘drunk’ – or because they want to say that any felt physical effect of drinking is ‘drunkenness.’

Maybe you should go read the context

The problem isn’t drunkenness. The problem is a lack of being controlled by the Spirit – which results in heartfelt glory and thanks being given to God, verbally, in the context of community. So if drink affects what you say and how you feel and think – stop it. Don’t go there. Don’t even get close to it.

Frankly, some of you know that sometimes you drink too much. Maybe you don’t get ‘drunk’ per se – but too much. And you know you do. You need to knock it off. And if you need to stop drinking to do so, stop drinking. God is not cool with you sinning. He doesn’t think it’s funny. It’s damning. Jesus did not die for you to live like an idiot. His death gave you the Spirit, who produces worship to God in you. Live like it.

If that makes you mad, see command 2.

It’s funny, by the way, here, that some Christians say that ‘wine’ back in the day didn’t have much alcohol in it. Really? Then why the constant commands against drunkenness?

Those of you who don’t drink and don’t struggle with drinking too much – fine, good. What, you want a medal? Go do the rest of what the text commands, by the grace of God, for his glory.

Command 2: Don’t worship alcohol.

If you can’t give up drinking because you’re afraid of how people will look at you or because you just like it too much – even if you’re breaking other commandments with it (you know, like not getting drunk) – you’re worshiping alcohol.

Some of you are saying here that you don’t have a shrine to booze before which you bow. God, on the other hand, says every sin at its core is a worship problem -
God isn’t being honored, but something else is in this text. How might alcohol be being honored? By your acting like you trust in it for your happiness – as opposed to trusting God for your satisfaction.

That’s exactly why Paul calls ‘covetousness’ idolatry -

In other words – the moment you want something more than you want God – or for any reason other than wanting God – you’ve made that thing into a god, and you are worshiping it.

And if you can’t run from sinning with alcohol by giving it up, you worship alcohol. If you can’t stop sinning with it, you need to give it up.

Some of you have the opposite problem. You say that Christians should never drink because it will ruin our spiritual lives – or our witness.

As to the latter…. Really? Do you actually know any non Christians? Or maybe you do, and the Gospel you want to share with them is ‘we believe in Jesus and here’s the rules we made up that he wants us all to obey.’

That’s not the Gospel.

As to the former – if you think alcohol will ruin someone’s spiritual life – you are giving it far too much credit. That’s like saying the existence of women causes lust. The problem is your wicked, ugly, wretched, depraved, evil heart – not alcohol. Don’t give it more credit than it deserves. It can be used by wicked people for wicked things. But it isn’t a looming, sovereign, demonic ogre that can possess you.

Command 3: Don’t cause others to stumble.

Or in other words, don’t cause other people to sin. Here are the relevant passages:
Romans 14
1 Corinthians 8-9

Before we get into specifics, I just want to state the goal of some of how this command breaks down... or better, I'll let the Word do it. Click.

The goal is a community where people are loving each other. They’re really interested in each others’ happiness. There’s love and peace and joy between people, produced by God the Holy Spirit.

Okay, so you want specifics? Here are some specifics. If you don’t drink, don’t judge people for drinking. If you do drink, don’t judge people for not drinking. If you don’t think you do either, stop judging people for judging others.

If you drink and you’re around someone that isn’t sure whether they should or not, don’t act in such a way that they are pressured to act against their conscience. If they do, they’re sinning because they think they might be breaking a commandment (even though they’re not), and they’re doing it anyway.

If someone is tempted to get drunk, don’t drink around them.

You are not the judge of other Christians. God is. And God has accepted them into his family based on Jesus’ work and bloody death and resurrection. You have brothers that daily enter into a fight to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus with you. Help them. Don’t hurt them.

And don’t try to get people to act or think like you. Try to get them to see and think of Jesus.

Command 4: Don’t be proud.

Why? Well, because God opposes the proud?
I don’t know about you, but if God’s team captain, I’d rather be on his team than playing against him.

That’s a nicer way of saying that I’d rather be on the side of the all-glorious Creator who controls who goes to Heaven or Hell than against him.

Someone I know once said to me, “I’ve never had a drop of alcohol.” The problem with the previous sentence is that I could’ve easily written, “Someone I know once bragged to me, ‘I’ve never had a drop of alcohol.’”

Well good for you. I haven’t had lima beans in years. Do I get a cookie?

Again, what are we saying here? That your actions are worthy of praise? I’m sorry… you know what… I’m trying to see Jesus, and your glory’s getting in the way – could you move a little?

Some of you are proud that you don’t drink. Stop. Be proud of Jesus. You’re saved by his bloody death – not because you won’t drink a beer.

The opposite’s also true here, though. Some of you are proud that you DO drink. “Thank you, God, that I’m not like those Pharisees who obey rules they made up; but that I don’t make up rules.”

Wow, so let me get this straight – you’re being self-righteous about your lack of self-righteousness? That’s…. amazing. It’s a logical conundrum. A paradox. I’m not even mad; I’m impressed. It’s an amazing thing to be proud of not being proud.

But there’s the deceitfulness of sin for you. Don’t do that. You’re not justified by your lack of rules or your rules, you’re justified by Jesus obeying God’s rules. Love him. Love his people.

Now, here’s another way to be proud. Some of you drink for show. You’re afraid of what people will think if you don’t drink. Or, you want to have Christians see you drink so they think you’re cool, edgy, hip, and not legalistic.

And the kicker is that some of you don’t even LIKE what you’re drinking. You just like being thought of as ‘cool’ or whatever it is.

That is pride, my friend, plain and simple. You do that, and you show that you care about your image – not Jesus’. Knock it off.

Or in other words, repent, and believe in the Gospel. Please.

Command 5: Don’t let others judge you.

I’m getting this from Colossians 2 –


People were judging people in Colossae. They were saying that people didn’t know God because they were enjoying food and alcohol too much – and weren’t obeying rules they made up.

Don’t let people judge you by those standards. Don’t hate people enough to let them go on missing Jesus.

Drinking isn’t Jesus. Not drinking isn’t Jesus. Jesus is Jesus.

So if someone tries to say ‘you shouldn’t’ or ‘you should’ and they can’t point to Scripture, point them to Jesus.

Command 6: Everything needs to be set apart by the Gospel and prayer and thanksgiving.

I’m getting this from 1 Timothy 4:

If you drink – or if you eat food – you need to live the Gospel out. You need to think about your booze or burger in light of the Gospel. You need to pray for God to be honored. You need to thank God for what he’s given you.

Honor God, not what He’s made. Some of you worship alcohol. Some of you worship food. You run to it for pleasure and comfort. Either one.

You need to repent and worship Jesus. Period. No buts. Confess your sin, confess that it’s worthy of hell, and thank God that Jesus died for it.

Command 7: Whatever you do, do it for God’s glory.

I’m getting this from 1 Corinthians 10:31 –

I’m not going to give you the context. Here’s the bare bones issue: you need to stop looking at the particulars of what you can and can’t drink, and ask the question, do you love God? How you doing with that? Could be better, huh?

Every action in every moment needs to be evaluated in terms of intent. Are you doing whatever it is TO glorify God? Not ‘can you’ – ‘ARE you doing it to honor God’?

And to the extent you’re not, run to the cross, please. Run. Don’t try to say you are a good person, or that you’re better than other people, or that your sin is less bad.

So much of what we do, think, feel, and say is worth nothing but the eternal, hellish wrath of Almighty God. And that wrath fell on Jesus in our places. And he lives. And he reigns. So run to him. Ask him for help. Thank him for saving you. And as he creates love in you for him, love him.

So if you don’t drink – make sure you’re doing it BECAUSE you love Jesus.

If you do – make sure you do BECAUSE you love Jesus.

And to the extent that you don’t, run to Jesus.

This makes me sad...

I was listening to Piper's sermon, "He must increase, I must decrease"; and it struck me: I really am after my own fame. I want people to know me, love me, appreciate me, respect me, praise me, think high thoughts of me.

But Jesus... (click)

And thank God that I'm forgiven for trying to usurp his throne - by the Lamb who gave his up

and who now reigns from it forever.

Resource on Eating Disorders

You can find it HERE.

If you minister to women face to face OR from the pulpit, this is probably worth your time.

Is Anger Sin?

David Powlison answers the question HERE.

Powlison is with the CCEF, which is the best Christian Counseling agency/group/association/whatever out there. I couldn't recommend them more highly.

Am I really that disciplined...?

Every morning when I awake, I set it aside, that before anything else, I spend time reading God's word and in prayer.

Why? Because I'm really disciplined? Well, sometimes. I can be disciplined about certain things, I suppose. Not everything.

There certainly was a time where I wasn't really reading the Bible very often.

What changed?

I no longer read the Bible out of a sense of duty. And furthermore, I don't believe there's an explicit command in the Bible that you need to read the Bible regularly, though it certainly is hard to 'delight' in and 'meditate on' God's word 'day and night' if you're not reading it (see Psalm 1).

No, I read every day because I need to. I'm poor to the very core, blind to see God's truths, starving in my soul for satisfaction and happiness, incapable of right or even logical thinking, dealing with feelings of guilt that crush my spirit, not dealing honestly enough with my guilt to feel bad about it, unfocused on what matters, having feelings that are completely inconsistent with reality

unloving, uncompassionate, faithless, selfish, wretched, foolish

captivated by sin and thinking that it's anything less than pure evil.

And I just want one... just one... glimpse of my Lord, my Savior.

Don't you?

He wrote a book, you know...

A Rule for Decision-Making

Augustine said, "Love God, and do what you want," with reference to how to make a decision.

It's good advice based on sound biblical principle. Jesus said, "If you love me, you WILL keep my commandments" (John 14:15).

I fear, however, that we reverse the order far too often. We do what we want and try to squeeze Jesus into it somehow. We take for granted that we love God. We genuinely think we do.

But we don't.

And when we do what we want and try to squeeze Jesus into it, we're merely doing what we want - treating ourselves as gods in the seeking after our own pleasures. And squeezing spirituality into it is just us being religious - wanting to feel better about ourselves. We want to believe we're righteous and good.

This should not be. We need to first and foremost seek Jesus. And good desires will flow from that connection - based on the strength of that connection.

The point isn't do what you want. The point is seek Jesus. Repent of your sins and your connections to this world - your desires which are based on anything but Christ's coming Kingdom. Repent, and seek Jesus. Pick up your cross and follow him. Set your entrance into his eternal glory as your first and utmost priority in mind, affections and practice.

Then, do what you want.